Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I had a wonderful time at one of our local schools this morning. After thinking about what it means to 're-member' (i.e. to put something or someone back together in our mind) I invited the whole school to stand in silence for two minutes. Some of the smaller children didn't quite get it...but most of the school did amazingly well. Kids today are not used to such a discipline, and Northern Parade Junior School did themselves (and our armed peace-makers) proud.

Later, at 11.00am, I went down to my church. I rang the bell 11 times at 11 o'clock, and then stood to attention at the front of the church. I was surprised, and rather disappointed, that no-one in the street outside the church bothered to join me, or even to stop for a moment (even in a military/naval town like Portsmouth). They carried on walking past, with arms full of shopping. I suppose I should not be surprised...but how sad for those who have given their lives for us to have the freedom to go shopping (among many other freedoms) to have their sacrifice so callously dis-regarded.

To read what I hope is a thought-provoking meditation/sermon for Armistice/Remembrance Day, please click here. It was preached on Sunday, and again this morning at our 10am Armistice Day service.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Do you find the Bible a perplexing and difficult read? Do you sometimes feel guilty that you don't pick it up often enough. You are not alone! To think more about this important spiritual subject, please read tomorrow morning's sermon, by clicking here.

Last Sunday we held our Harvest Festival service. Here is the sermon I preached - with some reflections about the meaning of Harvest - especially to us city dwellers. (This is a somewhat longer reflection than I actually preached - Due to time constraints, this is the un-edited version!). To read the sermon, please click here.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

If you want to read the nub of today's sermon, please click here. It is not precisely what I said - as I departed from the script a little in response to a wonderful gift we received this morning (a new tapestry-hanging). Enjoy!

Sunday, August 02, 2009

After a relaxing holiday in Scotland (over the last couple of weeks) today's sermon focused on some of the differences between the Church of Scotland and the Church of England. To read it, please click here.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Today, after a wonderful break in Cornwall, I mused on the wedding I was privileged to conduct for a young man who was once a paige-boy at my own wedding to Clare. If you would like to read the sermon, click here

Saturday, June 06, 2009

Tomorrow's sermon is an imaginative attempt to compress the history of religion - with a focus on Judeo-Christianity - into a very short timespan. It attempts to explain some of the early human impulse towards the divine - and culminates in the description of God as 'Trinity' (which Christians believe to be the imperfect, but best-yet way of describing God).

If you are interested in playing with these ideas, then please click here to read the sermon.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

If you want to read tomorrow morning's sermon on the theme "Take Up Your Cross", then please click here .

Also - please accept my apology for not posting last week's sermon. It would have been hard to do - as we spent 5 minutes in silence, instead of listening to words. Seemed like a good way to start Lent...and was the easiest sermon I've prepared in a long time!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

My mate (and fellow priest) Mark Rodel is the new City Pioneer Minister in Portsmouth. He's started a blog to record his thinking and progress around his exciting new form of ministry. Click Here to read it.

I've also stuck the link in my link list (to the left of this page, at the top...in case you stumble across the blog entry years from now!)

Mark is doing some fascinating thinking which, I'm certain, is going to help us all the think about the nature of our lives and mission. Get in on the ground floor by engaging with his brain right now!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

I've written a short story to illustrate the transforming power of God's grace. I'll be reading it tomorrow at our family service (at St Mark's, Derby Road, Portsmouth) - in place of a sermon. I hope it speaks for itself. I encourage you to let the story speak to your heart.

Friday, January 09, 2009

Over the holidays, I've been thinking about the way this website is laid out. So in order to make it a bit easier to navigate, I've decided to publish my sermons on another blog - taking up less room here, I hope!

So, if you would like to read what I will be preaching this Sunday, then please click here to read a sermon sparked by 'The Baptism of Jesus'.